The Living Forest (58) : Lime Nail Galls
Galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant or tree tissues and can be caused by various parasites, mostly by insects like gall wasps and gall flies, but also some fungi, bacteria and mites can be the origin.
The gall insects lay their eggs on the leaf surface and at the same time secrete a chemical that causes the cells on the leaf surface to expand and grow over the eggs forming the gall.
The larvae then feed inside the gall until fully grown, completely protected against predators, cold and rain.
Galls are not really spectacular, but some are quite colourful like these Nail galls (coming from a gall mite) growing on Lime leaves.
Dutch name : Lindenhoorntje
German name : Hörnchen-Galle
Latin name : Eriophyes tiliae
odeveld219 13/05/2012 20:32
Heel mooie foto! Knap gefotografeerd interessante uileg!!Groeten, Odeveld
Anca Silvia B. 13/04/2011 11:19
Sehr schön..lg ancaJacques BURY 13/04/2011 9:59
Very decorative those galls.*****Pozer Katalin 02/07/2009 22:58
What a special eyes you have! You notice every small thing in the forest....Thanks for it. I think a lot of things, plants and animals are well-known here with your help.
Splendid, clear shot.
Hugs, kati
Saska S. 27/06/2009 19:39
Great image and explanation. Thank you, my friend.Regards, Saska
Gaby Falkenberg 22/06/2009 19:54
So etwas hab ich noch nie gesehen,diese sehr ungewöhnliche Pflanze hast Du feinstens ins Bild grückt.
LG.Gaby
Comy 22/06/2009 0:28
+++† Ushie Farkas 21/06/2009 19:47
I never have seen it before, Mark, an great,fantastic shot!Salut Ushie
Hans-Reiner Bohn 21/06/2009 13:36
As I see, you'll keep your nature lessons going on....Very natural colours!
gruss, reiner
Mu Sik 21/06/2009 10:49
looks really fascinatingDeryck 21/06/2009 8:23
I have seen them many times, but not in the red variety. Thank you for the interesting documentary. It is very infromative.Deryck
Vitória Castelo Santos 20/06/2009 22:35
WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ryszard Basta 20/06/2009 21:40
super QualiJeannyL 20/06/2009 19:59
noch nie gehört oder gesehen Markwunderbar fotografiert
LG Jeanny
Natalja Dralova 20/06/2009 19:17
Very interesting photo and the information, I never such saw...